Car rams into pedestrians in Times Square, killing one

By: with Reuters

Published: 19 May 2017Image credit: Reuters

At least one person is dead and more than 20 injured after a motorist ploughed his vehicle into pedestrians at New York City’s famed Times Square.

Police say a former US Navy sailor was behind the carnage, with authorities stressing that there is no indication this was an act of terror.

Witnesses say the motorist mounted the sidewalk in a burgundy Honda sedan and sped along more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan.

Authorities have since identified the man as 26-year-old Richard Rojas, who they claim had been arrested twice for drink-driving in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing.

The incident was initially reminiscent of recent similar vehicle-attacks on pedestrians in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden.

"People were being hit and rolling off the car," pedestrian Josh Duboff said, before explaining he jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.